Truck



April 24', 1945.

J. LEDWINKA TRUCK Filed June 20, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JbephLedwinhlw ATTORNEY A ril 24, 1945. J. LEDWINKA TRUCK Filed June 20, 19403 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Jaseph Zedwz' XWW ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 241945 JosephLedwlnka, Philadelphia, Pa., asslgnor a Edward G. BuddManufacturing Company,

vanla Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Application June 20,1940, Serial No. 341,457

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to railway trucks.

More specifically it relates to trucks built up of metal plates whichare properly punched and drawn to produce a hollow frame when assembledand secured to one another in pairs, preferably y welding.

' being made on the plane indicatedby the line Another object is toconstruct a hollow side frame from a pair of embossed metal stampings Psitioned back-to-back and attached together with said embossed portionsoppositeh' disposed with respect to one another for providinglongitudinally extending box-shaped cross sections above and below thepoint of attachment of a transom thereto and to also extend saidembossed portions above and beyond the journal box receiving pedestals.

One feature of the invention relates also to a specific arrangement ofthe brakes, which in one embodiment are located outside the wheels, soas to be readily accessible for inspection, replace ment, or repair. 1

The invention further relates to making such trucks very compact and ofrelatively light weight,

while very rigid and strong, and having a pleasing streamlinedappearance.

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from thefollowing specification, in connection with the drawings which form apart thereof, and which disclose somewhat diagrammatically, twoillustrative formsof the invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of the complete truck, one of the side frames andpart of the transom and bolster being shown in horizontal section onaplane passing through the axes of the axles;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly broken away and in section onthe planes indicated by the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale through one lateral half of thetransom, bolster and side frame, on the plane indicated by the line 33of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section through the bolsterand transom, on the plane indicated by the line 4 -4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the pedestalportion of one of the side frames, the section being made on the planeindicated by the line 5'5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly in section, of one lateral half of amodified form of wheel truck, wherein the brakes are located inside thewheels;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly broken away adjacent one pedestal, toshow the rubber sand- I wiches supporting the axle of Fig. 6; and i Fig.8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section made centrally through one endof the bolster and transom of this form of truck, the section 8-8 ofFig. 6. v

In all the figures, corresponding elements are indicated by similarreference characters.

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, it willbe seen that the truck comprises two side frames, each indicated as awhole by the reference character I, each side. frame being made of twoidentical half-frames 24, which are'stamped or drawn from relativelyheavy sheet metal, so that the hollow parts of the resulting frames willbe substantially rectangular in cross sectionproviding strong boxsections 24 and 24 extending longitudinally of each frame at the upperand lower portions thereof, respectively.

At the opposite ends of each frame the upper and lower hollow boxsections 24 and 24 communicate with one another and into enlarged hollowpedestal receiving portions 24. It will be understood that each of themetal plates will actually be somewhat rounded at the bends, for ease ofmanufacture and increased strength, as well as for improved appearance,this being indicated by the rounded corners shown at 28 in Fig. l. Theextreme edge of each plate is outwardly flanged as shown at 25, in orderto aflord a readily available abutment of the two halves for weldingthem together, the ridge formed by these flanges simultaneously actingas a stiffening rib, which further increases the rigidity of the sideframe. The portions 25 of said two halves between the hollow portionsforming the spaced box sections 24 and 24 and which extend to the hollowend portions 24 also abut one another and are secured together by weldsor the like to form a central web 45 of the frame.

At each end of each side frame in the enlarged hollow portion 24 apedestal I3 is provided, by means of a rigid inverted U-shaped forgingor castin which is suitably secured to both halves of the side frame inany way, as by the bolts or rivets 44. Oppositely directed extensions l3and Iii are formed on each pedestal casting [8 at the lower end thereofand are positioned between the flanges 25 of the two halves of theframe, said flanges diverging from one another at such point as theyextend toward the body of the pedestal casting l8 and engage and conformto the general configuration of the opposite sides of the extensions l3"and '3'. These extensions are also riveted to the two halves of theframe as shown at 44' in Fig. 5. In this'way, these U-shaped pedestalmembers I! not only. are rigidly held in place, but they furthermoreassist in securing the plates 24 rigidly to one another adjacent eachpedestal where ample strength is highly desirable.

Outstanding flanges laare provided on both sides of each pedestal bodyl8 and extend through cut-out portions 24 in the two halves of each sideframe for reinforcing said pedestals as well as the connection betweenthe pedestals and the frames.

The axles 2 are mounted in these side frames 1, by means of axlemounting boxes 8 positioned in the pedestals l3, said boxes 8 beingplaced between rubber slabs l2, located in front of and behind them, andmoreover have additional rub- .ber blocks l4 above them. The said threerubber elements may form three integral sandwiches by being vulcanizedjointly to a single U-shaped sheet'metal facing l5 on the one hand,

and to three separate facings l6 and "II on their The slabs l2will bestressed in shear, while the slab or block l4 will normally remainingfaces.

be in a state of compression. The lower portions of each invertedU-shaped pedestal body are tied together by a member I. bolted to thepedestal as at l8, said member l8 also serving the urpose'of holding thebox 9 together with the rubber assembly in the pedestal body IS.

The axles 2 herein illustrated are assumed to be dead or stationaryaxles, and the wheels '4 will be carried at their outer ends, bysuitable antifrictionbearings, each wheel having a brake disk 5 rigidlysecured to its hub, as shown.

These brake disks are thus located outside of the wheels, which makesthem readily accessible, and furthermore assists in keeping them coolbecause they are more freely exposed to the outer air.

A two-piece support 3, generally U-shaped in plan view, is provided tohold the brake shoeapplying means, which consist of a fluid pressurecylinder having the customary piston and levers cooperating therewith,in proper relation to the brake disks, the two halves of this supportbeing secured to one another in any suitable manner, as by the pin 6shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The support 3 is maintained at theproper distance from the axle 2, by means of the arms 1 which arepivotally mounted about the axis of the axle 2 as shown, and whose chieffunction is merely to maintain the support 3 in the correct position,while allowing it to pivot about said axis. An arm 8, extending awayfrom the axle, may be secured to each half of the support 3 in anysuitable way, as by the clamp l0 and bolts H. Each arm 8 may cooperatewith an abutment i9 secured to the side frame and to the transom 20 tolimit the extent of pivotal motion of the support 3.

Each brake assembly consists of a brake cylinder 36, having therein apiston attached to a piston rod 31, the cylinder itself having at itsother end a perforated lug 40. A bifurcated lever 39 is attached to thelug 40, as by a pin or bolt 43, this lever being pivotally connected tothe support 3 by means ofa pin or bolt 34 passing through a lug 33 onsaid support 3, the lever having a short arm on the other side of saidpivot 34, which is pivotally connected by a pin or bolt 4| to one of thebrake shoes 42.

A companion brake lever 35, also bifurcated, is connected by a pin orbolt 38 to the end of the piston rod 31, each lever 35 also having apivotal connection, such as a pin or bolt 84 passing through another lug33 on the support 3, and beyond said pivot being connected by a furtherpin or bolt 4| to the other brake shoe 42, so that upon supplying apressure medium to the brake cylinder 36 the two brake shoes 42 will beapplied with equal pressures against the opposite side faces of thebrake disk 5. These brake cylinders will preferably contain thecustomary restoring springs, to push the piston back into the cylinderwhen the pressure is relieved and in this condition, which isillustrated in Fig. 1, it will be noted that a bumper lug 3| on thelever 39 will abut against the corresponding lug 32 on the support3,.while the bumper lug on the lever will likewise abut against asimilar lug 32 on said support, so that then both brake shoes 42 will bewithdrawn from the brake disk.

The transom 20 which connects the two side frames together at pointssubstantially intermediate the ends thereof consists mainly of twospaced channel members 20 that extend through enlarged openings 25provided in the abutting portions 25' forming the'web 45 of said frames.The ends of the spaced channels 20' outwardly of the sideframes areconnected together at their lower portions by the members 20 constructedwith a horizontal bottom portion 20 and upwardly extending side portions20 that engage and are attached to the' sides of the channel members 20.The upper ends of the side portions 20 are bent outwardly and thendownwardly as at 20 for reinforcing purposes. Also for reinforcing thetransom 20' flanged angled members 20 are welded or otherwise attachedto the chan nels ill at the corners thereof for providing box sections.These flanged angled members extend the entire length of the channelsfor the purpose above stated. Side plates 20 are attached to the (0 prtions 20 by welds or the like and have the portions 20 thereof bent atright angles and attached to the web portions 45 of the side frames in asimilar manner for aiding in forming the connection of the transom tothe side frames. The abutments I 9 previously referred to areconstructed in the form of comer brackets and are riveted to both thechannel members 20* of the transom and the abutting portions 25 of theside frames which also form connection and supporting means between thetransom and the side frames.

The horizontal bottom ortion 20 of the member 20 besides extendingbetween the two channel members 2|] also extends inwardly and hasattached thereto flanges of members 48 which are in turn connected tothe opposite sides of the frame. The upper portions of said channelmembers adjacent each end are tied together by a plate 4! which hasconnected thereto by welds or the like the flanges of members 41 weldedor otherwise attached to the sides of a frame. Thus the members 41 forman attachment of the upper portions of the frames to the transom whilethe members 48 form an attachment or connection of the lower portions ofthe frames to the transom.

Constructed on the horizontal bottom portion 20 of the members 20 aredepressed pockets 20 which receive and support the lower ends of thecoil springs 22. Spacer members 20* are attached to the sides of thedepressed pocket: 20 and to the members 48 for aiding in rigidlysupporting the outer ends of the transom.

The bolster 2|, like the transom 20, is built ends 01! the plates 5|have castings or forgings 55 therein to hold the inverted cups 2!,housing springs 22 which bear on the one hand against the bottoms of thecups and on the other hand against the bottom of the depressed pockets2| of the transom, to carry the bolster and its load.

The inverted cups 28 have lugs 23' thereon that are received in bayonetslots 22 provided in the castings or forgings 50. with this arrangementthe bolster 2| may .be assembled endwise in the transom prior to placingthe springs 22 and inverted cups 23 in position for yieldably supportingthe bolster. At each end the bolster on the inverted cups 23 may have aguide 22 secured thereto, each of these guides having a roller such as21 therein for supporting the vehicle. in cooperation with the centerplate 45 mounted at the mid-point of the bolster.

While the web portions 45 of the side frames are shown with smallopenings 45 therein to allow the supports 3 for the brake assemblies topass through, it is to be understood that relatively large openings maybe made for permitting free circulation of air therethrough as well aspermitting access to the space within the truck frame. However, sincethe brake mechanism is placed outside the wheels in this form, it is nothighly important to have access to the space within the truck frame, andit is for this reason that the webs 25 are allowed to remain in thisembodiment. In the other embodiment which will now be described, thebrake mechanism is inside the wheels and therefore this web is absent,that is, large holes are available to give access to the interior of thetruck frame.

Referring now to the modified form illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, itwill be seen that the side frame 29 replacing side frame I of the otherform is built up of the same general shape and manner as the side frameI, which consists mainly of two halves 29' placed back to back andattached together by welds. The two halves are heavily embossedthroughout the major portions thereof for producing spaced side walls ofthe side frames, while the marginal edges thereof are flanged as at 29for abutment and attachment to one another.

The side frames 29 may be connected by a transom 52 of tubular form,which as shown is of rectangular cross section with the corners rounded.The transom may be secured to the side frames 29 by forming flanges 55at embossed portions on both halves 25* on said side frames,

these flanges being formed from the sheet metal itself and of propersize and shape to fit around the ends of the transom as shown, whereuponthe transom may be secured thereto in any suitable way, preferably byspot welding.

The transom has suitable apertures 56 in its upper surface to allow theguides 28 for the rollers 21 to pass therethrough, and also has anopening at the center of its top surface as shown at 51, to accommodatethe center plate 49. The bolster 58 within the transom is supported bysprings 53, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Bolts 59 pass through thetransom and in connection with the centering flanges 60 and it hold thesprings in proper position.

An abutment plate 62 may be provided in connection with the flange 5| torestrain endwise motion of the bolster, as shown in Fig. 8, the plunger63 hearing against said abutment plate 52, and being carried by thebolster 58 with yieldable means, such as the rubber sandwiches l4,

cooperating therewith to resiliently resist such sidewise motion of thebolster.

Adjacent each axle, the embossed portions of the side frames areenlarged as at 58 of increased width and have fixed therein at saidenlargements the housings 55 to accommodate the rubber sandwiches whichsupport the side frames from Journal boxes 51. The enlarged portions 58of the side frames as well as the housings have vertical slots ll"extending upwardly therein through which the Journal boxes 51 extend.Wear strips 88 are located on the opposite side edges of the slots 56for slidably supporting the journal boxes in their-vertical movementwith respect to the side frames.- Tie members 5| are. attached by bolts,rivets or the like to the lower portions of said side frames at theslots 55" for reinforcing the material weakened by the slots.

The above mentioned sandwiches, designated by reference character 68,consist of rubber slabs vulcanized between metal plates, said plateshaving hooks alternately on the bottom and top as indicated at 89 andIll, so that they may be hooked together thereby, the-outermost sandwichbeing connected to the'side frame, and the innermost to the Journal box.It will be noted that two sets of such sandwiches are provided for eachjournal box, and located on the opposite sides thereof.

Between the enlargements 66 and the transom connections of each frameare enlarged openings 85 to allow access to the mechanism between saidside frames, as shown in Figure 7, and such openings will also assist inkeeping the brakes cool by facilitating the flow of air when the vehicleis in motion. Around the openings 85 the metal of the two halves 29 isflanged as at to provide abutting and attaching portions.

In the other form of truck previously referred to the wheels 4 and brakediscs 5 were outside the side frames while in this embodiment the axles2 carry the brake discs 5 and wheels 4 inside the side frame. operatingwith the discs 5 is not shown, as it forms no part of the presentinvention. It will be understood, however, that it may be of the samegeneral nature as that indicated in Figure l by way of example. I

Having described the structure of two forms of the wheel trucks, whichembody the invention, it is believed that the operation will beselfevident. It may be well to summarize it briefly as follows. i

In the wheel truck disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, the

weight of the vehicle is transmitted to the bolster through the centerplate 49 and the cooperating rollers 21, which are carried by the endsof the bolster. The stress then passes to the transom through thehelical springs 22and from the transom it passes to the axles 2 throughthe pedestal member l8 and the rubber slabs l2 and It. In this way asufllciently yieldable and resilient support for the vehicle isprovided, to absorb shocks and deaden noises.

The brake mechanism co- The'operation of the other embodiment of theinvention, illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, briefly consists insupporting the vehicle by means 'of the center plate 9 and the rollers21, all of which are carried by the bolster 58, which then transmits thestress to the transom through the helical springs 53. The. transompasses the stress to the side frames,- which at their pedestals in turntransfer it to the rubber sandwiches I! which'will be stressed in shear,and pass their load to the Journal boxes 61. resilient, and yieldablemounting for the vehicle is provided. Any excessive side sway will besnubbed by the rubber sandwiches N, which become stressed when thebolster moves in the direction of its own length.

Any suitable means for forcing the brake shoes against the brake disksmay be provided to cooperate with this type of truck frame.

- While the present invention has been described herein in connectionwith two detailed embodiments'thereof, it is obvious that theseembodiments are not the'only forms in which the in- I vention may beconstructed but that they are merely illustrative of certain forms ofstructure which at present seem to be preferred embodiments.

Inasmuch as many changes, additions, and omissions may be made withrespect to the structure disclosed herein, attention isspeciflcallydirected to the fact that the invention is not to be considered aslimited to the precise structures herein disclosed, but is definedsolely 'by the following claims.

shoes carried by the truck frame and axle and extending from side toside of the truck and beyond the side frames, the brake shoes beingsupported :by lateral extensions of the U-shaped support.

2. A truck comprising side frames, a. transom secured to the said framesand maintaining them properly spaced apart, each frame having a pedestaladjacent each end, an axle mounted in opposite pedestals and carrying awheel at each end, cooperating rotatable and non-rotatable brake meansat each end of the axle, located outside the frame, and a generallyU-shaped support for said non-rotatable brake means carried by the truckframe and axle and extending from side to side of the truck and beyondthe side frames, the

non-rotatable brake means being carried by lateral extensions of the U.

3. A truck comprising side frames and a transom secured to the saidframes and maintaining them properly spaced apart, a pedestal at eachend of each frame, an axle mounted in each opposite pair of pedestals,the said axle extending outward beyond each side frame, a wheel mountedon each end of the axle, a brake ring located beyond the outer side ofeach wheel and secured to the said wheel, a generally U-shaped supportextending from side to side transversely of the truck and beyond theside frames and removably secured to the truck frame and axle,

Thus a quiet,

a brake shoe carried'by the support and coopcrating with the said brakering, and meanaalso carried by the said support for actuating the saidbrake shoe.

4. A truck comprising side frames connected by a transom, an axleextending outward beyond each side frame, a wheel mounted on an end ofthe axle, a brake ring located beyond the outer side of the wheel andsecured to the said wheel, a support extending transversely of the truckbetween and beyond the side frames and removably secured to the truck,brake shoes carried by the support and cooperating with the oppositefaces of the said brake ring, and means also carried by the saidsupportfor forcing the said brake shoes against the faces of the ring,said means comprising a brake cylinder and its piston,

and' levers connecting them to the respective shoes.

5. A truck side frame provided with pedestal openings near its ends,said frame comprising as main structural elements two stampings, saidstampings being symmetrically shaped and having their main bodiesarranged generally parallel to and spaced from each other, connectingmeans between the outer margins of said plates and the margins of saidpedestal openings, further connecting means between said plates providedalong upper and lower longitudinally extending lines vertically spacedfrom the'outer margins of the plates and also from each other in theregion between the two pedestal openings and along longitudinally spacedlines arranged between said pedestal openings andthe transverse centerline vof the frame and interconnecting said longitudinally extendinglines, said connecting means comprising flanges bent off from the saidplates along their outer margins and along said lines, the flanges beingdirected toward each other and connected along their meeting edges, saidplates and said connecting means resulting together in a system ofintercommunicating box section girders which are closed substantiallythroughout their length and possess, therefore, great strength andrigidity against the torsional forces.

6. In a hollow frame structure, two plates.

spaced from each other, flanges along a marginal portion of said plates,said flanges of different plates being directed toward and connectedwith each other over part of their length but spaced from each other foranother part of their length, the spaced flange portions merginggradually in the adjoining connected flanges, a member being inserted inthe space between said flanges, said member being provided with aportion of gradually diminishing width so as to flll the space ofdiminishing width between said ,flanges.

7. A truck frame comprising two plates having their main bodies spacedfrom each other and being provided with a pedestal opening, the outermargins of said plates near to said opening being flanged'toward eachother and connected with each other along the edges of said flanges,theconnection between said flanges ending a short distance from saidopening and the flanges being graduallyspaced from each other adjacentthe opening, a pedestal bracket being inserted between the margins ofsaid pedestal opening and being provided with extensions which fit intoand are connected to the spaced portions of said flanges, said flangesand said brackets together with their extensions resulting in acompletely closed box sectional frame structure.

8. In a truck side frame, two plates arranged longitudinally andvertically of the truck, said plates being spaced from each other,connecting means between the outer margins of said plates, extendedcentral portions of said plates being oflset toward the other plate,said offset portions being connected with each other so that theirmarginal portions and said connecting means constitute together with theadioim'ng portions of the main bodies of said plates closed boxsectional sill structures.

9. In a truck frame according to claim 8 having pedestal openings nearits ends and having also a central opening, means for the attachment ofa transom or :bolster, said ofiset portions of said plates extendingbetween said pedestal openings and said central opening being providedwithin the area of said offset portions.

10. In a truck, a side frame in the form of a box-section beam arrangedon edge, inboard of the wheel location, a hollow section transom with abottom wall and side walls having its one end extended throughregistering openings in the vertical walls of said side frame andprojecting a considerable distance beyond said frame, means forconnecting both vertical walls of the'side frame to the walls of thesaid transom, the outwardly projecting portion of the bottom wall ofgeszeransom constituting supporting means for a r.

11. In a truck according to claim 10, said transom having its wallsreinforced by means extendthe vertical walls of said side frame beinginwardly flanged around the opening through which the transom extendsand being connected with each other by the flanges, angle-section bracesbeing attached to the outside of the vertical wal s of the side framesby one of their arms and havngtheir other arms attached to the outsideof said transom.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

